Here we are I am some 14 years without Windoze. 14 years without MSOriface. Been on Ubuntu MATE since 20.04LTS, previously Ubuntu. I tell my friends about UM, and regularly post reviews and features on my blog. I am completely dedicated to UM as it is a fantastic flavour, Ubuntu stability w/o the bloat of Gnome. I find it just works!
I have a few friends (Can never seem to make too many), and each one of them, when I suggest they move to Ubuntu MATE, they digress and stay with Windows. I tell them its really stable and that they won't have to pay for OS license, or for MS Office. Still they stubbornly stick with their Windows. I have saved about $500 in Windows fees and about $1500 over the last 14 years, I believe its a conservative estimate, not to mention all the other free and open source applications I have installed and used over the years. Question: Why do these folks insist on sticking with Windows, when Ubuntu MATE (Can even make it look like Windows), is clearly superior to anything MS has to offer?
I am really and truly grateful to all the volunteer Devs that bring Ubuntu MATE to me and have established it to be a premier Ubuntu flavour. My many thanks for Ubuntu Devs for creating the base on which Ubuntu MATE is based.
That's all I have to say, just wanted to put it out there how Ubuntu/Ubuntu MATE has impacted and changed my computing life forever!
It is what they started with and learned on. Most people would rather suffer with the known than challenge themselves with the unknown. Linux is different, but not that different. Also I don't think Linux websites do Linux any favors. They post almost everything as using the command line. I often post in the comments the GUI way of doing the same thing. I have been using Linux for over 16 years and seldom use the terminal, and when I do I have cheat sheets, as I am older with a poor memory and a really bad typist.
The other thing is software. There are a few software programs that just don't run on Linux. I have a lot of Garmin stuff and because Garmin uses netframe you can't run their software on Linux. I have tried to install it with Wine and PlayOnLinux with no luck. I hate virtual box. I also haven't found a suitable replacement for Quicken, I would use GnuCash if I had to, but have to keep a Windoze computer for Garmin anyway. Also the names and user interfaces are different and people are lazy when it comes to learning. Some Linxu software doesn't have the friendliest user interface. I use Kid3 as a MP3 tag editor, but it took me a long time to learn to use it due to the interface.
I started using open the source alternative Open Office over MS Office , which I refused their extortion. Then I found a site that had all open source software and used that on Windoze instead of paying big bucks for software. You can use Linux software, decide what it is worth to you, and then donate what you think is the appropriate amount. The final thing that drove me to Linux was Windoze self corrupting registry. I have never looked back. But don't expect most people to challenge themself, and most people prefer going with the crowd rather than the different path.
Hmm I wonder if trying Lutris instead of PlayOnLinux could work - I can't praise Lutris enough since it helps soo much with GUI options for WINE and Winetricks, and stuff that wouldn't work on PlayOnLinux works like a charm in Lutris - I mean i did only try it with games but still those games that were from early 2000s worked only through Lutris because it somehow configures it all and works like magic so I would suggest trying it cause it can't hurt
I think asking them would provide a better answer than anyone here could give.
From my own experience, I'd say Linux and/or Ubuntu's weak points are things like;
streaming services often won't go higher than HD - or in the case of something like NBA League Pass; you can't get it at all;
can get banned for playing certain games on Linux;
it's still very challenging to navigate the ecosystem of software - in spite of some serious effort to make it work better.
At least two of those things aren't the fault of the Linux/Ubuntu/open source software community - but they are still real problems that probably won't ever get resolved.
It's nice to see when people have used this for a long time -- it makes me happy!
My Intro -- I have been on Ubuntu MATE for about a month now but used the MATE DE on Debian, Mint, Arch, and openSUSE but (without jinxing myself) I think I have found my place.
I started my Linux journey in the middle of last year and distro-hopped a lot. I enjoyed having so much freedom after M$ released Windows 10, which caused me to move to Mac for several years. Then got tired of being so locked down in Mac OS and looked up Linux. Distro-hopped way too much and ready to settle down. I think I' ve found my place here.
To answer the poster's question, I think people stay on Windows because they don't know any better, or they don't have a choice due to the software/hardware usage or games they play. I have very basic needs and don't game so I was lucky I could just port my workflow over to Linux without much hassle. However, I could see pain points for power users or serious gamers.
I never heard of Lutris before this but I will check it out. It should work for Quicken from what you said but Garmin needs MS netframe and I doubt MS will let that run on anything but Windoze.
I also haven't tried Bottles either.
I've tried bottles and I like it, but personally, I just run everything off wine directly.
Adobe products also do not work well in Linux. I have tried wine, bottles and VM and nothing seems to work well enough for me to get my work done. It all goes back to the graphics card.
I don't think I have the technical ability to run off of wine directly and I have tried. I have had the best luck with PlayOnLinux, but am willing to give Bottles and Lutris a try. I would love to get rid of that old Windoze computer forever.
I tried both Lutris and Bottles but since I started with Lutris first it felt more "at home" and I felt more comfortable with it - but as I read online people have their preferences but it's mostly just the GUI feel haha
Lutris is designed specifically for gaming so if that is what you looking for, I would choose it over Bottles. With Bottles, you still have to setup wine for each program and save it as a "bottle". Then when you want to use the program, you "open the bottle" and it launches.
I don't mean to be insulting in asking this question:
Why would anyone in his right mind want to expose his Linux system to the vagueries of Windows Virus-prone applications by installing Wine/Bottles or any other API that exposes the Linux core to the binaries of those "bad actors"?
Sorry... replied on my phone and did not see the reply here so sorry if this is a double post...
It's all good Eric. I was just answering the question since I had experience with both when I tried to get my Adobe products working on Linux. No judgement here if someone wants to use either.
I will say that right now, the only apps on my Linux laptop are Linux based apps. I only use Wine or Bottles sparingly and only for one offs.
I can't blame Corporate users, with all their tech investments, to straddle the two worlds. I just hope, for their sake, that they do have a plan to fully migrate away, unless some of their tools are Client-imposed, like in a Call Centre.
I would prefer Linux applications, but Linux has to have them first. I don't think a Windows virus could theoretically affect your system, but everything I have read says it is very unlikely.
Viruses/trojans are just programs, and will work on Wine... Also, your normal Linux file system is exposed to Wine with the user that launches Wine credentials.
BUT, usually viruses are based on lots of hacks, and they expect a "standard" and common Windows installation. I doubt that any virus is coded thinking that it will be executed on Wine, and if it exists, it will probably not be too successful.
Why? Because Wine users are a small portion of normal users, they have "weird" and strange installations (think in all flavours of Linux+Wine), usually are avanced users, and they have a strong community aware of security.
So: yes, you are exposed to windows viruses, but not totally exposed, and most probably your linux installation will not be contaminated. Just be careful as you are on windows.
On the other hand, you can use several techniques to increase the security: use chrooted wine (search google for chroot), virtualized environments, etc...
As you said, it's best to treat Wine like you would an ordinary Windows installation and take similar precautions.
Duncan, R., Schreuders, Z.C. Security implications of running windows software on a Linux system using Wine: a malware analysis study. J Comput Virol Hack Tech15, 39–60 (2019). doi:10.1007/s11416-018-0319-9.
, see